Follow the author of this article

Follow the topics within this article

Jeremy Corbyn has been forced to warn his supporters not to “abuse” his critics in the Labour party after dozens of female MPs urged him to stop the bullying and intimidation they have suffered.

Speaking at a rally in Salford to launch his leadership campaign, Mr Corbyn acknowledged that people were "angry" at moderate MPs who were trying to topple him.

But he said that they should settle their differences by "democratic" means.

Mr Corbyn is fighting a leadership contest against Owen Smith, his former work and pensions spokesman. Mr Smith is backed by most Labour MPs who fear that Mr Corbyn is destined to lead the party to disaster.

Owen Smith arrives in Manchester before making a speech for his Labour leadership campaignCredit:
Getty Images

But Mr Corbyn is believed to have the support of hundreds of thousands of Labour activists. Even his critics on the Labour benches in the Commons expect him to win again.

The tactics used by Mr Corbyn’s supporters, many of whom come from socialist and radical left-wing backgrounds, have caused anger among moderate Labour MPs. His alleged failure to condemn their actions has further inflamed the row.

On Saturday, in front of 1,500 rapturous fans in a packed theatre in Salford, Mr Corbyn appealed for calm.

“We have to be very disciplined,” he told them. “As I have made it very, very clear many times before, I don't do any personal abuse of anybody at any time. None of that has any place in our party or our movement.

"I know people are angry about actions that have been taken but where we have disagreement in our party we settle it through democratic means - no coups, no intimidation, no abuse.”

"Rape threats, death threats, smashed cars and bricks through windows are disgusting and totally unacceptable in any situation," they wrote.

"This is acknowledged by all factions, yet the simple words of condemnation offered in response are inadequate. We expect swift and tangible action against those who commit such acts."

Angela Eagle, the MP who first challenged Mr Corbyn for the leadership before pulling out to support Mr Smith as the “unity candidate”, has been forced to cancel her constituency surgery meetings on security grounds.

A brick was put through the window of her local party offices on the Wirral and she has received death threats.

However, one of Mr Corbyn’s closest allies risked escalating the civil war in the party by warning the MPs that they must show “respect” to the rank-and-file members.

Richard Burgon, the shadow justice secretary, told the rally that Mr Corbyn's supporters were being "demonised" the way striking miners had been in the 1980s.

"I am not, and others are not, going to stand by and see every single one of you portrayed as the striking miners were, as thugs, brick-throwers, bullies and misogynists," he said to cheers from the packed audience at the Lowry theatre.

"It is vitally important that we respect each other with our different views, as we do. But I tell you this, MPs need to respect party members as well.”

Mr Corbyn and his ally John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, have also faced criticism for suggesting the NHS should pay for medical research.

Mr McDonnell attempted to defend the Labour leader’s proposal for an end to medical research being “farmed out” to big pharmaceutical companies.

John Humphrys, the presenter of BBC Radio 4's Today programme, told Mr McDonnell: “It costs a billion pounds a time to get a new drug on the market. He [Mr Corbyn] doesn’t seem to have thought it through at all.”